Spurs most to blame for series-tying Game 4 loss to Timberwolves

This young San Antonio Spurs team is learning in real time, as they are being pushed to their limit by the Minnesota Timberwolves. In Game 4 on Sunday night, the Spurs had to overcome some spontaneous adversity after Victor Wembanyama got himself ejected, and in the end, they lost steam in similar fashion to their Game 1 loss as they sputtered in the fourth quarter en route to a 114-109 loss to the Timberwolves, evening up the series at 2-2.

This series still favors the Spurs, as they have homecourt advantage and the series is shifting back home for a crucial Game 5. But if only a few things had gone their way or perhaps they kept their composure in crunch time, they would already be sitting pretty in the Western Conference Finals.

Nonetheless, the Spurs are gaining so much playoff experience, and all they have to continue doing is to learn from their past mistakes. These players, in particular, have to take it upon themselves to be better if they were to eliminate the Timberwolves — a team that’s made it to the Western Conference Finals over the past two seasons.

Victor Wembanyama cannot put his availability in jeopardy

The Spurs, for most of the game, were without Wembanyama after he threw a mean elbow towards Naz Reid, which the officials then deemed worthy of a flagrant foul penalty two. It’s difficult to argue against the decision; there was a bit of a wind-up from Wembanyama, perhaps out of frustration towards the Timberwolves’ physicality, and any contact of that sort above the neck is always worthy of such a penalty.

This did not automatically lose the Spurs the game, of course. San Antonio kept in step most of the way, even having a chance to win in the end. But Wembanyama’s presence was sorely missed in crunch time as the Timberwolves bludgeoned the Spurs on the interior.

Luke Kornet was rendered helpless against the Timberwolves’ three-headed beast of a frontcourt consisting of Rudy Gobert, Julius Randle, and Naz Reid. Minnesota dominated the glass when they were having a back-and-forth towards the end of the fourth quarter, all while Gobert was making easy layups after the Spurs decided to go small.

Wembanyama is perhaps the most impactful defensive player in recent memory, and he’s a one-man defense who would have made life difficult for Minnesota as they took control of the paint. But he could not be there for his team in crunch time as his daft play earlier in the game forced him into an early trip to the locker room.

Wembanyama has also hit his stride offensively, and he would have given the Spurs a go-to-guy with the game hanging in the balance. He’s coming off a 39-point performance in Game 3 back on Friday, so he certainly would have made an impact on both ends of the floor had he been actually available to do so.

Moving forward, Wembanyama cannot let his emotions get the best of him. He’s too important for the Spurs to not have him in the games that matter the most. Titles can be decided this way; just ask Draymond Green about his thoughts on his absence in Game 5 of the 2016 NBA Finals due to a suspension.

De’Aaron Fox continues to struggle in the clutch

Fox is a former Clutch Player of the Year award winner, so to see him struggle in the clutch is a bit of a jarring sight. It does not help matters whatsoever that Fox’s primary defender is Jaden McDaniels, one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA. But Fox has a 60-point game against McDaniels in his resume, so it’s not like he’s utterly helpless against him.

Fox went 1-5 in the clutch, and it’s his inability to make timely buckets that allowed the Timberwolves to build on their lead in the dying embers of the game. They did make it interesting in the end after they forced a turnover to pull to within one possession, but even then, Fox’s misses amid his tendency to settle for tough contested shots did not help matters whatsoever for the Spurs.

The 28-year-old went 8-24 from the field, and he hasn’t exactly been very good in this series. Fox, as one would recall, signed a four-year, $222 million extension that kicks in next season. Simply put, this kind of performance cannot fly for someone making supermax money.

With Game 5 being at home, Fox should be better, and he simply cannot find himself being outplayed by Dylan Harper and Stephon Castle.

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